1.2.2 Battle of Hastings

Question 1

What was King Harold and the Anglo-Saxons’ army like, preparing for the battle?

Answer 1

Around 7000 - mostly fyrd, with some thegns. Also elite housecarls, although many had been killed at Stamford Bridge. Survivors of the fight against the Vikings were exhausted having marched 300km (190 miles) south following Harold’s decision to head straight into battle, rather than giving his men time to rest

Question 2

What was Duke William and the Normans’ army like, preparing for the battle?

Answer 2

Combination of soldiers from Normandy and mercenaries from other parts of France and western Europe, totalling approximately 7000 men. Highly skilled archers and cavalry (soldiers on horseback). Men were well rested having landed several days before. They had spent the time burning villages and building the first motte and bailey castles.

Question 3

How were Duke William and the Normans’ army well rested for the battle?

Answer 3

They had landed several days before, having spent the time burning villages and building the first motte and bailey castles

Question 4

What was King Harold and the Anglo Saxons’ weaponry and armour like, preparing for battle?

Answer 4

Double-handled axes, pikes, large circular shields, housecarls had armour, peasants used pitchforks, farming equipment, and weapons and armour taken from fallen soldiers

Question 5

What was Duke William and the Normans’ weaponry and armour like, preparing for battle?

Answer 5

Bows,tear-shaped shields that covered from chin to knee, pikes and armour

Question 6

What was King Harold and the Anglo Saxons’ battle tactics and strategy like, preparing for battle?

Answer 6

Shield wall - interlocking of shields to prevent an enemy advance. All soldiers on foot (infantry), including Harold

Question 7

What was Duke William and the Anglo Saxons’ battle tactics and strategy like, preparing for battle?

Answer 7

Infantry and cavalry. Archers to wear down the enemy. The army organised into divisions and a flag system was used for communication to allow tactics to be changed during battle. William on horseback

Question 8

Where was King Harold and the Anglo Saxons’ position on the battlefield?

Answer 8

The top of Senlac Hill

Question 9

Where was Duke William and the Normans position on the battlefield?

Answer 9

The base of Senlac Hill with marshall land on either side of

Question 10

How was King Harold as a leader?

Answer 10

An experienced general who had successfully fought the Welsh and the Vikings. Many supporters in England, including most nobles and the Witan

Question 11

How was Duke William as a leader?

Answer 11

A highly experienced general, conquered areas around Normandy and as far away as Sicily. Had the support of the Pope and the king of France, and was supported by or allied with the leaders of the states that bordered Normandy

Question 12

Describe how Harold’s army moved north - September 1066 (3)

Answer 12

• Harold II’s army had marched north to support the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria against Harald Hardrada
• On the 25th of September 1066, Harold Godwinson defeated Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge
• Harold II had marched his army north, believing that William of Normandy would not invade in 1066. The wind conditions made sailing across the English Channel difficult and most armies do not attack during winter, because of the difficulties of fighting and creating temporary camps during winter

Question 13

Describe how William set sail and arrived in England (2)

Answer 13

• Despite the bad wind conditions, William of Normandy set sail in September, whilst Harold’s army was near York
• The Norman fleet landed in Sussex, at a place called Pevensey. His soldiers set foot on English soil on the 28th September 1066

Question 14

Describe how Harold’s army marched to the south (2)

Answer 14

• Harold’s army did not begin to march from York to the south of England until the 2nd of October 1066
• Harold’s army was very tired. They had marched from the South to York and back in the space of 2 weeks. Some soldiers had also been injured in the Battle of Stamford Bridge

Question 15

When did Harold II’s army marched down from York to meet William’s army near Hastings?

Answer 15

14th October 1066

Question 16

Battle of Hastings (1-5)

Answer 16

1) The battle began at 9am. The Anglo-Saxons formed their shield wall and the Normandy were unable to break through. Norman arrows flew over the heads of the English frontline or hit the shields. Cavalry charges proved useless against the firm Anglo-Saxon line
2) After a number of failed attacks, one group of Normans rank back from the line. Sensing victory, a group of Anglo-Saxons gave chase, causing a break in the shield wall. But when they became trapped in the marshland, the Anglo-Saxons were slaughtered. William ordered more feigned retreats like this and finally the Anglo Saxon one began to be worn down
3) During a break in the battle to allow both sides to recover their dead and wounded, William changed tactics. He moved his arches to the front and ordered them to fire in the air. The arrows landed on top of the Anglo Saxons, behind the shield wall, causing chaos
4) Fearing the arrival of Anglo Saxon reinforcements, William made one final push for victory. A combination of the feigned retreats, constant arrow fire and a full scale cavalry attack meant that by late afternoon the shield wall had almost disintegrated
5) As the shield wall fell, the Anglo Saxons were cut to pieces by the advancing Normans. At some point during this part of the battle, King Harold was killed. With their leader dead and the battle lost, many Anglo Saxons began to drift away. The day was William’s.

Question 17

How did King Harold II die?

Answer 17

Popular myth says that he was killed by an arrow through his eye

Question 18

How did Harold gain the upper hand due to his position?

Answer 18

Usually, armies try to secure ‘the high ground’ either at the top of a hill or on top of a mountain. Harold II’s army managed to ‘gain the upper hand’ and position itself at the top for the hill

Question 19

After how many hours of fighting did the English shield wall begin to fail?

Answer 19

8

Question 20

Why did the English shield wall start to fail after 8 hrs of fighting? (2)

Answer 20

• Due to the army’s tiredness
• Williams ‘final push to victory’: a combination of the feigned retreats, constant arrow fire and a full scale cavalry

Question 21

28 September 1066: the Norman fleet lands at Pevensey in _______.

Answer 21

Sussex

Question 22

The Battle of Hastings was the final victory in whose invasion?

Answer 22

William

Question 23

How did high vs low ground have an impact in the result of the battle?

Answer 23

Harold II’s English army had the high ground. Usually being higher than an opponent is an advantage. Being higher, usually means that you can effectively fire arrows further, through javelins further, and infantry are more tired if they have to run uphill to attack you. The English army had the high ground, by standing on a hill, but still lost the battle

Question 24

How did the poor discipline of the English troops have an impact in the result of the battle?

Answer 24

Historians report that when the Normans retreated (backed away from the battle), English soldiers chased after them. This is called breaking rank. The English were well-organised in a long wall of shields, before then all running after the Normans. The shield wall would have been destroyed, exposing the English troops to the Norman arrows and the English soldiers would have then been in a 1-1 battle with Norman soldiers using things like swords. Chasing after the Normans showed a lack of strategy or discipline, which may have led to the English to lose the battle

Question 25

How did Norman archers vs the English shield wall have an impact on the result of the battle? (2)

Answer 25

• William’s arches fired arrows at the English from a very long distance. This meant that English troops could not through javelins far enough to hurt the Norman soldiers. The range of archers is further than men can throw javelins
• The English used shields, put one next to the other, to create a ‘shield wall’. This helped to protect the English troops from the arrows but also defends well against ‘infantry’ who are troops on foot

Question 26

What was infantry?

Answer 26

Troops on foot

Question 27

What are 5 key factors in the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 27

• The high ground
• Norman archers
• English tactical ill-discipline
• The English shield wall
• The distance that English javelins could be thrown

Question 28

Summary of the timeline for Battle of Hastings (3)

Answer 28

• The Norman fleet landed in Sussex, at a place called Pevensey
• William’s soldiers set foot on English soil on the 28th September 1066
• The Battle of Hastings happened on the 14th October 1066